Page 16 of Matteo

It would’ve turned out to be a lovely evening if Mason’s big brother hadn’t been there. At the end of the night though, I think he’d finally gotten the hint because I’d watched him leave with some big-titted brunette.

“So Mason’s brother Carmine is having a whole thing at his house later on this evening….big bonfire or something like that,” Nora volunteered.

“And?”

“Well, he wanted me to invite you over…”

My brain was already thinking about how I had shit to do at my shop in the morning. I had a contractor coming by to inspect some water damage. My calendar also had me showing a few women clients coming in to get their hair styled.

“Maybe,” I replied finally. “Look, I need to shower if I’m going to be the traffic. I’ll see you in a bit. Love you.”

“Love you Rain,” my sister ended the call.

Plugging my cell phone up, I padded into my bathroom. The fresh white towels were folded up on a higher shelf. Grabbing one, I dropped it on the sink and turned on the shower. Undressing, I made sure that the temperature was perfect before stepping in.

The body wash container was half empty and I made a mental note upon drizzling the soap as if it were syrup over my lime green loofah, to buy more. Scrubbing my body, I thought about Nora’s mentioning the other brother having a get together.

I didn’t know much about the family but when my sister had been kidnapped, a fact the rest of my family was still clueless about, these fuckers had shown up. One thing was for sure, the Zacharra’s had an interesting relationship with what side of the law they were on.

I wasn’t one to judge.

My bestie was the daughter of a rumored Yakuza boss. Partying with Cassie had brought me into contact with all sorts of seedy-ass people, and I’d even dated a few. It had never worked out for me.

My sister though, she was the smartest person in the room.

I was sure Nora was always aware of what was going on with her man and his family. I was super sure she knew to keep her mouth shut.

After the shower and fixing my hair, I didn’t even bother with putting on lipstick. I was going to church, not trying to catch a man. The last thing I wanted to do was attract attention in the Lord’s house, hence the ugly dress.

The hairs on my arms were raised like tiny spikes the entire drive to Mt. Ezra Baptist Church. Occasionally, I’d drag my hands over them as if to soothe away any worry.

Finding a parking spot was the worst and once I did, I noted the time and hurried to the front.

Nora was standing there on her phone waiting for me. Her simple black dress dropped well below the knee and she had on a pair of black suede heels similar to the nude ones that I’d chosen to compliment the monstrosity that I was wearing.

“Sis!” I spoke.

She stopped staring at her phone long enough to embrace me before we hurried inside the already packed church.

“Is it always this packed?” I asked once we were through the wooden doors.

That familiar church scent filled my nostrils, making me wonder why all churches seemed to smell the same. It didn’t matter which one you visited or whether in Los Angeles or Seattle, it was the same thick, wafting plume of waxed pews, bible pages and some holy cleanser that gripped you.

“Mom said something about a visiting preacher,” Nora shrugged.

We were kind of in the back and I had to peer around heads here and there. The service wasn’t due to start for another five minutes, so I’d made it in the nick of time.

Our mother and the rest of her gang, also known as theMorning Clouds of Glory Women Choirwere up behind the empty preacher’s chair cackling. From where I could see, Miss Grace, my mother’s friend for as long as I’d been alive needed her roots touched up.

Making a mental note, I was going to text her about coming in.

All my mother’s friends got heavy discounts and I considered that my part in doing the Lord’s work since I didn’t come in this place enough to save my soul.

“What’s with the dress,” Nora pinched at the fabric.

Laughing, I slapped her hands. A giggle erupted loud and clear, causing a few people to look back at me from the pew in front of us.

“Don’t play me,” I whispered through gritted teeth.

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